Big boost or Big Brother?

Medical guidelines are considered an effective method to inform physicians about current medical practices and to reduce variation among physicians' treatments. Many software programs integrate medical guidelines with patient medical records so that physicians and insurers can track outcomes and physician practice profiles. However, automated medical guidelines could pose a threat to patient safety if guidelines are designed for cost control rather than quality treatment.
Edward Zalta, MD,-believes the key to improving clinical care is within his grasp -- literally. A hand-held computer, no larger than a medical chart, is running software that can take [...]